Amy Spiro

Amy Spiro is a reporter and writer with The Times of Israel

Noa Kirel in the clip for her 2023 Eurovision song 'Unicorn.' (Courtesy Kan 11)

March 8, 2023, 11:55 pm

Israeli pop star Noa Kirel unveils ‘Unicorn,’ her entry for 2023 Eurovision contest

21-year-old singer channels her inner mythical beast in music video for international song competition: ‘It’s a song that represents all of us, the whole country’

By Amy Spiro

Author Jennifer Caplan alongside her new book, 'Funny You Don't Look Funny.' (Courtesy)

March 7, 2023, 5:45 am

Is that (still) funny? Scholar explores generational shifts in Jewish humor

In her new book, ‘Funny, You Don’t Look Funny,’ Jennifer Caplan traces attitudes toward American Jewish comedy from Philip Roth to ‘Seinfeld,’ ‘SNL’ and ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’

By Amy Spiro

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks in the Knesset on February 27, 2023. (Noam Moskowitz/Knesset Spokesperson)

February 27, 2023, 8:00 pm

Netanyahu at Knesset: ‘We can’t accept anarchy’; no room for ‘setting homes on fire’

PM cites bereaved mother’s call for unity; Otzma Yehudit boycotts plenum session over coalition’s West Bank policies, accusing Netanyahu, Gallant of ‘tolerating’ Palestinian terror

By Amy Spiro

The cast of the Hallmark film 'Made for Each Other.' (Steve Ackerman/Hallmark)

February 25, 2023, 3:24 am

From dust to human: A new Hallmark rom-com puts a twist on the Jewish golem legend

‘Made for Each Other,’ written by Israeli-American screenwriter Adi Blotman, centers around a mystical 16th-century folktale, with a 21st-century twist

By Amy Spiro

Members of the new government headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pose for a group photo at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, on December 29, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

February 6, 2023, 5:55 pm

New government has so far appointed zero women as ministry directors general

Out of 31 cabinet ministries, 23 men have been tapped as directors, with only a handful of positions still unfilled; women’s group threatens to go to court over matter

By Amy Spiro

Syrian rescue teams carry a casualty picked up from the rubble after an earthquake in the government-controlled central Syrian city of Hama on February 6, 2023. (LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)

February 6, 2023, 2:09 pm

‘Request was received’: Israel to send earthquake relief to Syria as well as Turkey

Israel to send tents, medication, blankets, could receive wounded for medical treatment; first of two Israeli teams to head for Turkey tonight; Syria denies asking Israel for help

By Lazar Berman and Amy Spiro

Rescue teams try to reach trapped residents inside collapsed buildings in Adana, Turkey, Feb. 6, 2023 (IHA agency via AP)

February 6, 2023, 9:24 am

Israel to dispatch emergency aid, teams to earthquake-stricken Turkey

Netanyahu says teams to provide aid ‘at request of Turkey’; Herzog: Israel ‘stands ready to assist’; Foreign Minister Cohen, Defense Minister Gallant speak to Turkish counterparts

By Amy Spiro and Lazar Berman

Members of the Hapoel Jerusalem women's soccer team at a recent game. (Berney Ardov/Hapoel Jerusalem)

February 2, 2023, 5:57 am

End goals: The Jerusalem team trying to shake up how Israel treats women’s soccer

In just its 3rd season on the field, Hapoel Jerusalem’s women’s club has made history with its speedy advance to the Premier League – with backing from the US government

By Amy Spiro

A worker at a restaurant in Tel Aviv, March 3, 2021. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

February 1, 2023, 3:18 pm

Tourism Ministry greenlights entry of Michelin Guide to Israel

After years of negotiations, prestigious culinary rankings expected to debut in Tel Aviv, the only city where Michelin inspectors see ‘feasibility’ for review

By Amy Spiro

Prime Minister Menachem Begin during a debate in the Knesset on March 20, 1979. (AP Photo/Max Nash)

January 24, 2023, 1:35 pm

‘There are judges in Jerusalem’: A famous Begin quote or misquote?

As discourse over the judicial system reaches a fever pitch, the former prime minister’s purported words echo louder than ever – even if he never said them

By Amy Spiro

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) meets with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan in Jerusalem on January 19, 2023. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)

January 19, 2023, 3:40 pm

Meeting US national security adviser, Netanyahu stresses bid to build Saudi ties

In 1st Jerusalem visit since new government sworn in, Jake Sullivan notes shared ‘challenges and opportunities,’ mum on Biden administration’s concern over Israeli domestic issues

By Amy Spiro and Jacob Magid

Emily Austin at the 71st Miss Universe competition in New Orleans on January 14, 2023. (Courtesy)

January 19, 2023, 3:03 am

Why an intern at Israel’s Mission to the UN judged this week’s Miss Universe pageant

At 21, social media star Emily Austin served as a judge at the annual beauty pageant, in between sports reporting gigs and an internship with Gilad Erdan’s team in New York

By Amy Spiro

Magen David Adom personnel at a blood donation drive in Moshav Yashresh, central Israel, on March 24, 2020. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

January 15, 2023, 6:06 pm

Former UK residents no longer banned from giving blood in Israel

Magen David Adom says risk of infection no longer ‘justifies turning away blood donors’ who had been barred since 1999 over mad cow disease

By Amy Spiro and Ash Obel

Kalush Orchestra from Ukraine stand on the stage after winning the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest at Palaolimpico arena, in Turin, Italy, May 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

January 3, 2023, 11:15 pm

Eurovision organizer warns Netanyahu against threatening Israel’s public broadcaster

EBU director general asks PM to ‘safeguard the independence of Kan’ in order to remain a member; communications minister: I am ‘beholden to Israeli public and not any other body’

By Amy Spiro

Police at the site of a sinkhole on the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv on September 17, 2022. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

December 27, 2022, 2:23 pm

Hebrew Academy picks ‘sinkhole’ as its word of 2022

Selected by online voters, word narrowly beats out ‘governance’ and ‘hallucination’ to take the top spot

By Amy Spiro

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